Moisture | Are you doing it right?

My hair is always dry! - The Untold Masses

A common stumbling block for women embarking on their hair journeys is the battle to keep moisture IN the hair. Many think it's simply apply product to hair and go about your business.

Hold on!

You may be doing it wrong:
(see if you've been guilty of these mistakes).

#1) Under-Moisturizing
Just as you feel thirsty if you aren't getting enough water, your hair feels dry if you're giving no-where-near the amount of moisture it needs.
I suggest you start by moisturizing daily. If your hair feels dry later in the day, go up to twice daily moisturizing sessions. If it feels mushy at the end of the day, however, go down to alternate day moisturizing sessions.

#2) Not sealing in the moisture
Using water or a water-based product is a good idea, but the water within it can evaporate quickly from the hair shaft....unless it is sealed in. This is done by applying an oil or butter to the hair after applying your water-based moisturizer. Some moisturizers also have oils included which help slow down the evaporation process.

#3) Moisturizing Dirty hair
When the moisturizer you apply cannot get through the build-up of products already sitting on your hair, you are not going to reap the benefits of the practice. Some products are notorious for forming a barrier to further moisture: silicones and petroleum-based products, for instance.

#4) Trying to moisturize your hair with a butter or oil
Simply put, moisture comes from water. If there is none in the product you are using, you are just lubricating the hair. Some oils CAN penetrate the hair shaft: coconut oil and olive oil for instance, but most sit on the outer surface only. This goes for most butters too. This makes them great for sealing in the moisture though (trapping it in the strand for longer).

#5) Neglecting the ends of your hair
The oldest parts of your hair strands are, you guessed it, the ends. Hence, they get dried out faster than the rest. They need the moisture and care you want to give during moisturizing sessions. A lot of women tend to focus first on the ends of their hair, then apply a bit of moisturizer to the roots. This will definitely aid length retention by minimizing breakage.

So, have you done any of the above? Any other tips or tricks you've picked up that have upped the ante for your moisturizing mojo? Do share!